HOT: Jam and Cream, 1 Orr Street, Heidelberg Heights

Posted: 12th February 2014

If you’re looking for a place with crafty retro charm, Jam and Cream cafe is well worth the drive to suburban Heidelberg.

You’re welcomed into the double-fronted entrance by a mint vintage bike leaning on a picket fence – and then everywhere you turn it’s cuteness. You can choose between sitting in the indoor area, replete with tables decoupaged with old magazine clippings and dress patterns and vintage knick knacks, or ducking into the astroturfed back area from the side alley.

If the weather’s favourable I suggest you take a seat outdoors. There’s sets of rickety garden furniture stuffed with crocheted cushions, large jaunty sunbrellas, a mini herb garden, a chook pen….and a caravan named Miss Polly that’s pink, pink, pink! The whole setting is absolutely gorgeous and full of sweet quirkiness.

The menu is similarly retro and filled with the kind of food that your Nanna used to make. In fact, it’s the only place I’ve ever been that serves 16 types of scones (sweet and savoury)!

For lunch I had the pinwheel sandwiches with four different fillings spiralled into slices of fresh bread. While they weren’t particularly exciting there was a wholesome homeliness to them.

My little dining guests shared a ‘knee high to a grasshopper’ tea party ($14.95). It was a nostalgic platter of home made treats – a mini sausage roll, honey joy, chocolate crackle, pinwheel fairy bread (with glitter dust!), a chocolate spoon, a pink iced cupcake and the lone saveloy being the only non-homemade product.

It came with a choice of ‘little liquid’ drinks and in our case, a miniature enamel teapot filled with warm (not hot) chocolate. We had a lot of fun pouring it out into the miniature dainty tea and saucer set adorned with mini marshmallows.

For dessert I was tempted by the home made apple pie and Nanna’s sponge of the day (both $7.50) but decided that I had to try at least one of the scone selections. For $13.95 you get two scones with a pot of tea or coffee (or a frothy hot chocolate in my case). I chose the ‘Agnes’ which were two coconut, macadamia nut and white chocolate scones. Eating scones made-to-order and fresh out of the oven lifts them to a level beyond compare and I highly recommend having some scones during your visit.

In fact, if you’re with two or more people order the Nana’s tasting plate for $28, which consists of ten miniature savoury and sweet scones, lots of condiments and a pot of tea/coffee for two. Talk about afternoon tea heaven!

On your way out to pay have a browse through their little store of goodies, from home made jams and sweet treats to whimsical cat tote bags.

Jam and Cream is one of those eccentric little places with an atmosphere that is sure to amuse and delight. My three year old was as charmed by it as my thirty plus year old self! I will definitely return to enjoy high tea inside the caravan one day – a bargain at $29.50 per person for tea, mini quiches, sausage rolls, scones, cakes and other home made food.